Short Summary

Britain, like the rest of Europe, is feeling the pinch of rising prices -- in the food stores, in public transport and in services like the telephones.

Description

Britain, like the rest of Europe, is feeling the pinch of rising prices -- in the food stores, in public transport and in services like the telephones.

In all, there have been some 6,000 price increases this year in Britain. Britain has had the highest rise in the consumer price index of any of its European Economic Community partners.

Cars have been allows to increase 7 per cent in price and the Price Commission has allowed car components to be increased.

Food prices have gone up 16 per cent in a year, with the fresh foods -- dairy products, eggs, meat and fish, -- even higher. Fresh foods are not pegged under the price and wage controls instituted by the U.K. government at Westminster.

It's this disparity, between wage increases that are hold to a bare minimum to fight inflation and food and consumer goods prices that have galloped ahead, that is causing increasing criticism of government policies.

Government authorities are now saying that beef and bacon and some other goods may never come down in price again.

The price rises have been blamed on a general world shortage, coupled, paradoxically, with an increase n living standards that has boosted demand. For Britain, there is the added impact of its recent membership in the EEC.

The adoption of Common market rules on food has had the effect of driving up the prices of traditionally inexpensive foods. The EEC common agricultural policy, for example, encourages production by giving producers a guaranteed price even if the market slumps. This inflates food costs, though it is aimed a lowering them in the long run by increasing supply.

In London for the 2-day private meeting of European socialist leaders, Herr Willy Brandt, West Berlin Mayor and Leader of the West German Social-Democratic Party, took time off this morning to visit the German Food Centre in the West End of London.

New Zealand lamb, Australian wine and sherry, sake from Japan -these are some of the hundreds of different kinds of food and drink being exhibited at the Food Fair, Sept 1 to 17, at London's Olympia hall.